County approves planning & zoning restructure, backfill and three MOUs; deputy hire set for June 1

The Stevens County Board approved a set of personnel actions and a restructured job description intended to replace the long-serving planning and zoning director.

County coordinator (S4) told the board that three applicants interviewed for the department-head role vacated by Bill Ingles showed strengths in limited areas but none had the full breadth of experience needed to step directly into the 34-year role. He proposed re-advertising the position at a coordinator level reporting to his office, with a career path back to department head and a target grade of 19. “I would propose to re-advertise at a coordinator level with reporting to myself,” he said, adding the intent is to mentor the new hire into the department-head role.

The coordinator reviewed required technical training that the hire will need: septic-system SSTS certification, demolition/landfill licensing and approximately a year of training and supervised inspections before independent certification. He also said the county will continue to use consultant Ben Olson (Hometown Planning Solutions) on a contract or retainer basis for technical review as needed.

Earlier in the meeting the board accepted the resignation of Megan Bergin and approved a motion to backfill that position. The board then approved, in a single vote, three memoranda of understanding covering an overstrength position, a case aide and social-work overstrength/compensation language; S4 said operational needs made timely approval important because “we have 3 social workers out, 2 of which will be out to the middle of October.”

The board also confirmed a deputy hire: Steve Hendrickson passed background checks and is scheduled to begin on June 1.

Motions on these personnel items were moved and seconded on the record and carried without recorded opposition.